Smash & grab

Smash & grab

Uninsured drivers caught by police are paying less in court fines than it would cost to buy cover

These figures will come as a shock to most people and in the past we have supplied magistrates with sample insurance premiums so that they know the savings criminals have been attempting to make by not getting insured

An AA spokesman

Average penalties for having no policy range from £150 in Durham to £350 in the City of London.

Uninsured and untraced drivers kill 160 people and injure 23,000 each year.

Last year 105,082 people were taken to court for having no car insurance.

And the dodgers cost us more than £500million annually, adding £30 to everyone else’s premiums.

The Association of British Insurers last year dealt with more than 30,000 claims over accidents with uninsured or hit-and-run drivers.

Ministry of Justice figures show the lowest fines for not having cover were Durham (where the average was £150), Northumbria (£160), Gwent (£163), Cleveland (£165) and Humberside (£170).

The biggest average fines were in the City of London (£350), Warwickshire (£323), Kent (£320), Northamptonshire (£300) and Surrey (£300).

An AA spokesman said: “Every law-abiding motorist will be annoyed to see that for some people it is in their economic favour not to bother getting insurance.

“People who drive without insurance are being subsidised by those who do pay insurance to fund the costs that arise when they hit somebody on the roads.

“These figures will come as a shock to most people and in the past we have supplied magistrates with sample insurance premiums so that they know the savings criminals have been attempting to make by not getting insured.

“However, new legislation means that the cars are often impounded and a fine has to be paid to release the vehicle, which can be crushed if the driver doesn’t sort out insurance and collect it.

“Also the fines levied in courts are linked to the ability of the defendant to pay. So somebody who is a student or is on benefits is never going to be fined a great deal.

“But all in all the idea that drivers who don’t insure can end up being caught and still pay less than those who do insure leaves many motorists with a nasty taste in their mouths.”

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: “Driving without insurance has a maximum penalty of £5,000.

“The Government is in the process of amending this so the maximum fine will be unlimited.

“In deciding what sentence to impose in a case, the courts will take account of the circumstances of the offence and the offender. Sentencing guidelines are clear that the amount of a fine must reflect the seriousness of the offence.

“The court must also take into account the financial circumstances of the offender, so the impact is equal on offenders with different incomes.”

The ABI said: “We support tough action on uninsured drivers.

“Fines are decided by the Government and should provide a deterrent to drivers and others.”